BOUND TO THE VAMPIRE HEIR

A bell echoed through the academy halls, snapping Selene Vale back to reality. She blinked and stared at her reflection in the dorm mirror.

The dark blazer fit surprisingly well. The academy crest gleamed proudly on the pocket.

Ravenwood Academy.

A place reserved for geniuses and students from powerful families. And somehow, a girl from a tiny apartment with unpaid bills and a struggling widowed mother had managed to get in.

Selene smoothed down the sleeves of her uniform and swallowed the lump in her throat.

Then a voice filled every hallway.

"Attention all newly admitted students."

Selene immediately looked up.

"Blood donations will begin in fifteen minutes. All students are required to report to the Grand Assembly Hall immediately."

The announcement repeated twice.

Selene had seen something about blood donations in the scholarship contract she had signed. It was a weekly donation for those who really needed it.

She completely understood the terms of the contract, telling herself that if donating a little blood every week was the price for her scholarship and her ticket out of poverty, she could live with that.

She smiled at her reflection, grabbed her academy ID and turned.

A blonde girl was standing at the doorway, staring at her as though she had walked into something filthy.

"You should know your boundaries here, girl." The cold voice made Selene freeze.

Selene frowned. "And you are?"

"Roommate," the blonde girl replied, stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation.

Her gaze swept across the dorm room before settling on one of Selene's bags. Without warning, she picked it up and threw it onto the floor.

The bag landed with a loud thud.

"Take it."

Selene blinked. "What?"

The blonde girl pointed toward the opposite side of the room. "I don't want to see your miserable stuff on my side again."

Selene looked at the bag, then back at the girl.

"You could've just told me to move it."

The girl's eyes narrowed. "Why should I bother telling you?"

The hostility caught Selene completely off guard. She had literally known this girl for less than thirty seconds.

Before she could respond, the door suddenly opened.

"Jane George."

A dormitory supervisor appeared.

The blonde girl instantly turned.

"It's time for your blood donation."

Jane rolled her eyes. Then her gaze returned to Selene, a strange smile crossing her face. "You better watch your back, bitch."

Selene stared at her. "What?"

But Jane had already turned away.

The supervisor led her out, and the door shut behind them.

Selene stood there for several seconds, confused. Maybe the girl was having a bad day. That had to be it.

She shrugged it off and headed to the door.

The hallways were packed, students flooded the stairs, conversations echoed everywhere and excitement buzzed through the building.

Following the crowd, Selene eventually entered the Grand Assembly Hall.

Her jaw nearly dropped. The place was enormous. Rows upon rows of seats stretched across the hall. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The walls were decorated with ancient portraits and banners.

Selene found an empty seat near the middle and sat down.

Conversations buzzed around her.

"Did you hear who got assigned to the north wing?"

"I heard the Draven heir is back this semester."

"Good luck to the new donors."

Selene frowned at the last comment, but pushed the thought aside.

Moments later, a woman in her early forties stepped onto the stage.

The entire hall immediately fell silent.

"Good afternoon, students." Her voice carried effortlessly. "Welcome to Ravenwood Academy."

Selene smiled, a strange warmth filling her chest.

"This assembly is to welcome all newly admitted students." The woman paused. "We hope your journey here will be successful."

Several students applauded. Selene clapped along, her chest swelling with pride.

The woman smiled again. "All new students will be assigned today."

Assigned? Selene frowned slightly.

“Maybe assigned dorm supervisors.” She thought.

She glanced around the hall, noticing several older students exchanging knowing looks. Before she could ask anyone what it meant, the woman's voice echoed through the hall.

"This assembly is dismissed."

Instantly, conversations erupted, and students began leaving. Selene also stood to leave.

"Selene Vale?"

She heard her name and turned.

A supervisor stood nearby with four other students standing behind her.

"Yes?"

"Follow me." The woman said loudly.

"Yes, ma'am." Selene followed without hesitation.

The supervisor led them through a maze of corridors. At first, everything looked normal. Until the halls became quieter and the security became heavier.

The supervisor led them deeper into the academy until they reached a wide corridor marked with a black iron plaque.

VAMPIRE WING.

The words sent a strange chill through Selene.

She exchanged a glance with the boy standing beside her. He looked just as uneasy.

The supervisor stopped. "You three."

She pointed at three of the new students.

"Follow me."

The students hesitated before stepping forward.

Selene watched them disappear down a side corridor with the supervisor. As they walked deeper down the corridor, the more uncomfortable she became.

Moments later, the supervisor came back without the three students.

"Hey. You two." She gestured impatiently. "Follow me."

Selene opened her mouth to ask about the three students, but the question died in her throat.

The supervisor turned and continued walking.

Selene and the boy followed.

The deeper they went into the Vampire Wing, the more luxurious it became. The student dormitories transformed into private suites. Marble floors replaced ordinary tiles. Expensive paintings decorated the walls.

Yet despite the beauty, something felt terribly wrong.

Then… Selene heard a scream coming from a room nearby. She looked toward the closed door, and the boy beside her did the same. Their eyes met, curiosity flashing between them.

The supervisor didn't even slow down. As if nothing unusual was happening.

Selene's palms grew damp as different thoughts ran through her mind.

They entered a private elevator, and the doors closed. A few moments later, the elevator opened onto the highest floor.

Only three apartments occupied the entire level. The one in the center was significantly larger than the others.

The supervisor walked toward it and knocked.

"Come in." The deep male voice that answered carried quiet authority.

The supervisor opened the door, and Selene stepped inside with the other boy.

The apartment looked more like a luxury penthouse than a student residence. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the academy grounds. Modern furniture filled the enormous living room.

Six young men occupied the space. They all looked around seventeen or eighteen.

Four sat playing video games. One scrolled through his phone, and the last sat near a large window, focused on a canvas resting on an easel.

Every pair of eyes shifted toward Selene and the boy.

Selene knew there was something unnatural about them. About the way the room fell silent the moment she entered. About the way they watched like predators noticing prey.

"Good evening, gentlemen." The supervisor's tone instantly became respectful.

"These are the students assigned to you, Mr. Lucien."

The boy painting slowly set down his brush. He looked up from his painting and stared directly at Selene.

Her breath hitched.

He was breathtaking in a way that felt almost unreal. Dark hair, sharp cheekbones, pale skin, and piercing silver-gray eyes.

Everything about him radiated power.

"So I'll leave them here," the supervisor said. She bowed her head slightly before walking out, then the door shut behind her.

Selene stared at the door. She was still confused about everything. She had expected to be taken to a hospital ward for the blood donation and not to be trapped in a room with six boys around her age.

Lucien's gaze settled on the male student standing beside Selene. "You."

The boy stiffened.

"Come here."

The boy immediately obeyed, a bit nervous.

Selene watched as he stopped directly in front of Lucien. She noticed how the boy stood like he was hypnotized, but she couldn't understand why.

Lucien rose slowly from his chair.

Selene was unable to keep up with how fast everything happened.

Lucien's silver eyes suddenly flashed crimson. Sharp fangs slid from behind his lips. The veins beneath his pale skin darkened.

His entire face transformed into something terrifyingly inhuman.

Selene froze. “No way…” the words escaped from her lips.

The student gasped.

Lucien's crimson eyes locked onto his.

"Stand still." The command echoed through the room.

The student's expression immediately became blank. His body went rigid, like a puppet.

Selene's heart nearly stopped.

Lucien grabbed the back of the student's neck. Then sank his fangs directly into his throat as blood spilled instantly. The sound came out wet and violent.

The student didn't scream. He didn't even struggle, but stood there while Lucien drank his blood.

Selene stumbled backward, horror exploding through her chest.

"Oh my God…!" Selene screamed, tears blurring her vision.

Nobody reacted.

The boys continued playing their game like nothing was happening. As though a human being wasn't currently being fed on.

Another laughed at something on his phone.

Selene suddenly turned and ran.

"Help!" She said, grabbing the door handle, but the door clicked shut even tighter.

Her panic surged. "No! Let me out!"

She pulled harder then began slamming her hands against it.

Behind her, the feeding continued.

Seconds later, a loud thud sounded on the floor.

Selene turned slowly, scared to death. The student lay motionless, pale and dead.

Her knees nearly gave out.

Lucien slowly lifted his head, a streak of blood running down his jaw.

His crimson eyes settled on her. And for the first time, the room became completely silent.

Then he raised one hand.

"Come here."

The command struck her mind instantly. A strange pressure wrapped around her thoughts, pulling her.

She took a step forward.

Then suddenly… something pushed her back.

A wave of warmth erupted inside her chest, and the pressure shattered.

Lucien frowned.

"Come here." His voice became stronger this time.

The invisible force slammed into her mind again.

For a second, the room blurred.

A faint golden shimmer flickered beneath Selene's skin. Then the force broke apart once more.

Lucien's eyes widened in surprise.

He tried again, and again, but each attempt died before reaching her.

The strange warmth surrounding Selene continued growing stronger. The power surrounding her didn't merely resist Lucien's compulsion, it rejected it. As though recognizing him as an intruder.

After several attempts, Lucien finally lowered his hand. And slowly, his fangs disappeared.

The crimson in his eyes faded. Yet disbelief remained on his face.

The others were staring now too, completely shocked.

"That's impossible," one of them whispered.

Another stood from his chair. "She has to be a v

ampire."

Selene slid to the floor. She sat frozen there, trembling as she stared at the dead student who lay only a few feet away.

Lucien slowly approached her, his eyes fixed on her.

He crouched in front of her and asked, "Who are you?"

Selene looked up at him, still in shock about everything.